大象传媒

Warning: Some viewers may find the content of this video distressing

A female officer in the military has alleged that she was raped by an officer senior to her who was responsible in the Royal Navy for behaviours and values, including sexual consent.

Speaking exclusively to Woman鈥檚 Hour鈥檚 Nuala McGovern on 大象传媒 Radio 4, the female officer, who we are calling Joanna, reported the incident and her allegations to the military police who brought two charges of rape and one of sexual assault against the officer. However, the Services Prosecution Authority later said that they wouldn鈥檛 be taking the case forward to a military court.

The female officer, who feels she has been forced to leave the military, says that her career has been left in ruins, and that she has been suicidal. She says that she feels that the male officer has 鈥渂een given a slap on the wrist鈥�. She says he is still in the Royal Navy and holds the same rank as at the time of the alleged incident.

鈥楯oanna鈥� says she鈥檚 sharing her story with Woman鈥檚 Hour to encourage other women in the military to come forward. She also wants to urge for there to be greater support in the Armed Forces for people who allege that they are victims of rape and sexual assault.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: 鈥淪exual assault and other sexual offences are not tolerated in the Royal Navy and anything which falls short of the highest of standards is totally unacceptable.

鈥淲e acknowledge that this incident will have had a significant impact to those involved and since then we have made significant changes to how incidents are reported and investigated.

鈥淭his includes providing specialist help to victims and witnesses of serious crime, independent from the military chain of command.鈥�

You can listen to the full interview on 大象传媒 Sounds - it鈥檚 the Woman鈥檚 Hour episode from 10 May.

For information and support around rape and sexual assault, head to the 大象传媒鈥檚 Action line website.

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